Working mothers want flexible working options for Christmas period

Four in five working mums are dreaming of a more flexible Christmas, according to a survey.

The poll of 500 working mothers found that 78% were struggling to balance their work and home lives over the festive period.

The research by remote-access service provider Citrix Online and monthly web-based magazine Mother@Work found that more than half have used annual leave to look after their children during the school holidays.

Four in 10 working mums said being allowed to work from home would make the biggest difference to their work-life balance. The same number said more flexible hours would be very helpful.

One in seven wanted cheaper or more available childcare as a priority, with just 7% dreaming of a more understandable employer.

The survey says that three out of every four requests to work part-time or more flexible hours are being granted by employers.

Denise Tyler, editor of Mother@Work, said: “Flexible working options can go a long way to helping mums cope with the stress of balancing work and home life.”

Bernardo de Albergaria, vice-president of Citrix Online, added: “Achieving a balance between work and home life is becoming increasingly important for parents. By accommodating their requests for flexible working, employers can reap the benefits of a happy, motivated workforce.”